When life gives you lemons...

Now, if you suspect you've been sold a lemon, as in a lemon car, boy have I got a story for you.

As I'm driving along a certain road, I see this man with two huge, yellow lemon signs. One is placed on the front of his car. One is placed on the top of his car. Then I see that he has one he's holding up, to all passersby, with both hands.

"So and so sold me a lemon," read the signs.

Purposely, I'm leaving the names of all parties involved out of this column.

I couldn't help it, I just had to stop.

I walked up to him and said, "Sir, I just have to tell you this is one of the most ingenious examples of freedom of speech that I have ever seen."

He was parked on the road on the way to the dealership where he felt he'd purchased a lemon. So craftily parked was he that the police wouldn't have been able to do anything had they received a complaint from the business.

As we began to talk, it became clear to me that this was no rebel-rouser, no trouble-maker.

Larry Brunelle he is not. (Said affectionately, Larry!)

Rather, as the man put it, "I'm just at the end of my tether. The car's been in the shop 16 times in nine months. And, because the car was originally purchased in California, the lemon law here doesn't apply."

He was soft spoken and deeply concerned about names being put in the paper.

As he put it, he was just a man at the end of his tether.

Only in America...That's what I'm thinking.

Actually, the whole thing prompted thought on my part about our freedoms we take for granted.

After we parted and I began my drive home, I thought, 'You know, I could wear short skirts if I dared to. If I tried to pull that on a workday, the only person I'd get in trouble with is my boss. But at least the government would have nothing to do with it.'

We have the freedom to worship God in whatever faith we choose.

We have the right to voice our opinions about government, sans the threat of gloom and doom.

I have no curfew, I don't have to cover my face in public and I don't have to walk 10 feet behind a man just to be proper. I've also got the right to pursue an education.

Wow. Thanks Lemon-dude. A reminder of my freedoms that I so thoroughly take for granted and a deep appreciation for our veterans was a pleasant reminder of just how proud I am to be an American.